The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-19
His Testimony Fully Corroborates All the Ev-
idence Supporting the Charges Of Cor
ruption in Its Management.
How the Superintendent Was Forced to
Receive Unwholesome Supplies.
The Infamous Methods of the Trustees in
Running the Hospital Wholly in the
Interest Of Favored Contractors.

Harrison, Gapen and Burrell was resumed at
o'clock yesterday afternoon, the first witness
called being Trustee Burrell, who is treasurer
and secretary of the board. Mr.. Burrell was
sharply questioned as to how he came to report
balance of SIG 900 of the appropriation at the
close of the fiscal year, Oct. 81, 1886, when, as
matter Of fact there were several thousand dol
lars owing by the board. His answers were un-
satisfactory, and the matter will probably be
taken up again.
DR.. W. B. Fletcher. superintendent was the
next witness. He was asked the usual method
by which person obtained position in the hos
pital The witness said he made the appoint
ments on recommendations
Question-From whom do these recommendations
comet
Answer-For the men, most of them from
county officers, and Representatives and Senator'S.
Q.-How many from Representatives and Senator's!
thirds.
Q.-What proportion of Representatives and Sena-
have persons in there these recommendations?
A.-Of the present Senate and House could not
tell not great many, but good many from those
in the Senate and House two and four years ago.
Q.-Of what party9
A.-Denocrats.
Q.-What is the fact as to Senator Snt having OBJ
tanned place for persons
Ale obtained place for person, perhaps
more. H He has recommended several He got place
work, and they put on the third one.
Q.-Who did,
A.--The trustees.
GA great many recommendations are made by
Dr. Harrison. Can you give an idea how many?
A.-Icannot He is appealed to by large number
of persons and occasionally brings out and
says IF you can give this person trial wish you
would do So" Gapen and Burre recommend very
few; Harrison a great many from Boone county
speaks for vacancies ahead. He will say, Now here
is applicant for place. who is well recommended
Representative wish you would write to him and
give him place or appointment"
GA good many changes have been made?
Ayes. SIR Many have left, either by resignation
dismissal
Q-Resigrations don't indicate they resign of their
own free wills
A.-No. sir.
Q.--Have not designations been made under press
ure to make room for somebody else!
A named Dresback, in the wash.room.
who Republican, tod to resign. The board
urged me to dismiss the There another
Q.-She was regarded as a Republican,
Ayes sir. Another left because she
thought she would be dismissed
Q-What proportion of employees in the institution
when you went there now gone!
Al would think half.
Q.-How many were there in all!
Al think about 255.
Q.-How long have you been there!
A.-Four years the 7th of next juno.
Q-How many persons has Mr.. Faulkner, formerly
member of the Legislature had appointed
A. nleceS,
! Q.-Was Faulkner in the Senate when the Brown
| bill passed.
Ayes sir
Odd you hear anything about appointments
being made with reference to services in behalf of the
| Brown billl
case from various persons. could not mention their
names. l heard Dr. Harrison say such parties had
been his friends and he felt like doing something for
| them.
Q.-Has Senator Bell got ANYBODY out theres
| Ale has recommended several and got appoint
recommended lady who is on a ward there. Senator
Towards son was there on ward and was taken off
for promotion to outside nightwatch. Senator Hill
gass got Mr.. Wilhelm, the book keeper appointed.
Senator Bell had brother there.
MIR. Grfiths-Were Hillgass. Bell and Howard in
the Senate when the Brown bill was passed.
A.-Yes, sir
Mr. Grifiths And who did Senator Duncan have ap-
pointed
| A-Mr Roth. the assistant storekeeper.
Q.-Was Mr.. Duncan in the Senate when the Brown
bill was passed.
Ayes, sir.
Here Mr.. Swift read number of monthly re-
ports of Superintendent Fletcher to the trustees
concerning various matters connected with the
management of the hospital. One of Doc. /,
| 1885, had these significant words: ri was not
able to make all the changes in employees provid-
| ed by you at the October meeting. To have done
| so would have been Injurious to the hospital !"
Under another date the superintendent desired
the board to adopt a rule that no changes be
made in employees or discharges made except tor
| violations of rules and incompetency." In his
| testimony the superintendent said that referred
to the fact that places had been promised to per-
| sons outside who were being urged for imme-
diate appointment. The witness would not have
made those changes if they had not been desired
| by the board and such changes were made I'M
| der pressure from the board.
Question-What Is your opinion as professional
Of the system of appointments in vogue here2
Answer do not think it the best think care
full examination of applicants to qualifications and
system of promotion for good service and length of
service could improve it. would not place It on a
| religious or political belief.
In one Of his reports to the board the witness
| did make such a suggestion to the board. This
| like all Others went unnotced, except in a few
| minor matters When the witness first entered
| upon the duties of superintendent he attended
| meetings of the board regularly for two years
| He attended now very rarely, perhaps two or
| ing he was at was in November, and the time
preceding that about Christmas. 1885 Having
| nothing to do with the purchases, and his iudg-
| ment on those matters being very different from
that of the board. led frequently to difficulties,
/ as the articles bought were not what were
wanted. Frequently in dry goods, shoes and
i groceries, the bids called for the best and at the
| rate at which the board was purchasing first.
class goods could not be furnished. The prices
they were paying could not buy such articles as
were desirable for hospital use. The witnesses
| objections were of no avail. There were certain
men who supplied the things and tbs witness
objected to them because their bids were too
| low and their goods were not as they should be-
/ Question-Who were they?
/ Answer-kreitlen s. Schrader grocers; of the pro-
duce dealers Budd, John Sullivan and Arthur Jordan
| Q.-Why did you cease attending the board meet
| ings2
A-Because 1t was not my duty and my advice was
1 entirely gratutous
Q.-Mhat can you say of the supplies deveredl
A.-They were usually undergrade of dry goods,
| produce. groceries and boots and shoes.
Q.-Has that extended over the four years you have
| been there2
| A.-Nearly all the time The butter, with rare OK
ception has been all tho time Of inferior grade It